Township Trustees Have the Power — and the Duty — to Protect Residents

As a candidate for Scioto Township Trustee, I’m making this commitment:

• I will never hide behind excuses.

• I will use every tool available under Ohio law to protect our community.

• I will put residents first — not developers.

Annexation isn’t automatic — but it’s often timed to make residents feel like it is.

Under Ohio Revised Code §709.023, township trustees have the legal right to object to annexations. If they don’t, county commissioners are required to approve them.

Some trustees claim they “can’t object” or that the legal risks are too high. But that isn’t the truth. The law is on their side.

“The board of county commissioners shall enter an order granting the annexation unless… a township resolution objects.”
— ORC §709.023(D)

Trustees don’t just have the right to object — they have a responsibility to use that authority when an annexation isn’t in the best interest of their residents.

We’ve all seen how annexations sometimes unfold:

• Developers and mayors meeting behind closed doors.

• NDAs signed to keep agreements hidden.

• Timing designed to avoid public meetings and prevent outcry.

That’s not transparency. And it’s not leadership.

No more silence. No more excuses. Township trustees have both the power and the duty to protect the people they serve.